Chapter 21

Chapter

Twenty-One

"You shouldn't have left the house," said Demetri, though he didn't seem upset. Maybe he should've been.

He was right after all.

I knew Ishouldn'thave. I knew that not leaving the house when anyone could find me out was the logical thing to do. I was an omegaandthey were harboring me currentlywhichwas illegal, but I felt like I was getting stir-crazy at the house,and,"Liam said that it was okay."

Demetri chuckled, watching as I buckled myself up into the front passenger seat of his SUV. It was less flashy thanCal'scar and more"soccer dad." "Of course he did."

For a second, I thoughtI wasI was going to be in trouble. Though I had been spending more time in the nestandsometimes Cal and Demetri were both there.The lead alpha remained quiet with me, never revealingquite what he was thinking.

And something in me wanted to dig through that head of his untilhe'dlet me know allofhis secrets.

Not only the ones that involved meeither.

"Ithought you said you were taking me to see Rita,"I said, not quite askingthe question ofif he was still going to now with everything else going on.

"I am," Demetri confirmed. "But I made arrangements to bring her back to the house for you."

"You did?"

"Idid,"he said."I'd never want to keep you from your friends or living a life you enjoy, Ella. Even if we do have to be careful about it all right now. You understand?"

I did.

"Shall we head home and wait forherto arrive?"

I nodded quickly.

"Meohmy,"Rita shook her head the moment she saw me, pausing in the center of the front door of the pack house. Her hands settled on her waist to resist jumping to hug me.

I didn't have nearly as much willpower anymore. I moved forward and didn't pause until I was in her arms.

Ritalaughedstartled by my sudden affectionbeforelooking around the place again. Then, once morebackto me."You have to be kidding me."

Demetri smiled."I'llleave you two to it. I left the study for you two to get comfortable and have some privacy unlessyou'dliketo take her somewhere else."

I shook my head, starting to lead Rita down the hall. She was still staring at me with confusion and awe as I closed the door to the study.

"What?" I asked.

She waved a hand towards me as it wasobvious."You'reglowing."

"I am not," I fought.

"You are,"Rita insisted, lookingbackover her shoulder toward where we left Demetri and I was sure the other alphas. Though Ididn'tthinkthey'dlisten in.

He did say that we'd have privacy.

Rita raised her eyebrows.

I gave a tiny shake of my head.

My friend still looked unconvinced.

"Imean,it'sno wonderyou'renever coming back to the apartment,"she murmured before dropping into one of the oversized leather chairs.

I sat in the one next to her.

"Andyou'reworking on getting with the big, hot one that drove us here now?"Rita teased, her playful tone laced with mischief."Oh yes, what a hardship of a life you have taken on."

I shook my head, trying to ignore the butterfliesthat stirredin my stomach at the mention of Demetri."That'sDemetri."

"Demetri,"Rita repeated with a smirk, her gaze flickering mischievously between us.

My omega bristled at the almost flirtatious remark. I shovedherplayfully, knowing Rita only meant it in jest. Shewasn"tafter Demetri. Shecouldn'tbe.

I cleared my throat, attempting to change the subject."He'sthe lead alpha in the pack."

"He has the looks of that, so I figured. I could feel the whole"must protectomega"vibe in the car already from him,"Rita observed casually.

Must protect vibe?

The words lingeredin my mind, but Ididn'twant to ask her to elaborate. Already, my thoughts were consumed by memories of my time with Demetri, trying to decipher his intentions.

"Yeah, something like that,"I mumbled, feeling a mix of confusion and warmth at the thought ofDemetri"sprotective instincts.

"You'retaking on pack life easily,"said Rita now. Abit of a question.

As I settled back in my chair, the familiarity ofDemetri"soffice enveloped mealongwith the hint of his warm scent. His presence still being here was both comforting and overwhelming.

Maybe being in a packwasn'tall so terrible, I thought, despite my lingering uncertainty, but…

"I'm… not committing myself to anything yet."

"Okay."

"They're nice and they are keeping my secret for now."

"Well, that's good."

"It is,"I agreed."And Cal is here."

"Ah, right. Cal. How did he feel?"

"Ithink about as startled as the rest of us,"I chuckled.

At least I was being fed andtaken care of, even if they were all still keeping their distance to make me comfortable. Not that I would admit it out loud. The thought of feeling grateful for their consideration felt foreign, almost unsettling.

"Which other ones have you been with yet?"Rita asked, reaching for one of the snacksthat Markomust'veprepared for our visit on the table. Ihadn'tnoticed them until now."I'msorry, this isalllike the best soap opera ever. I have questions. I must know what is going to happen next."

Of course, she did. I wanted to laughthough.Thiswas Rita. Though she was serious about her studies. The rest of my life was…fun with her.

No wonder she kept me around.

We both needed each other in a way.

"I haven't been with anyone," I admitted, feeling a pang of embarrassment at my lack of experience.

"You'rekidding,"Rita exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.

I shook my head, feeling self-conscious under her scrutiny."Like I said.It'snot like that."

"Yet."

Yet.

"That is some serious self-control,"Rita remarked, her tone tinged with admiration.

I appreciated her attempt to lighten the mood, but Icouldn'tshake the nagging feeling of inadequacythat lingeredwithin me.

"Tell me more about this other guy you met on your conference trip,"I interjected, eager to change the subject and escape the weight of my insecurities."I need to get my head out of everythingandIfeel likeI'mmissing everything."

"You're not."

"Still tell me?"

Rita launched into a lively recount of my encounter with the mysterious stranger I had heard about over the phone.

I took it in stride and listenedcloselyas I started to devour the snacks between us, one after another. I found myself momentarily distracted from thoughts of Demetri and the complexities of pack life that she brought up.

But deep down, I knew that my feelings for Demetri would continue to complicate everything, whether I was ready to confront themor not.

Her bubbly excitement about this guy almost felt out of charactershewas so excited.

"He's unlike anyoneI"veever met,"Rita exclaimed, her voice tinged with wonder."Is that weird?"

I shook my head."Not the weirdest."

Ididn'twant to seem rude, but I was pretty surethatI still held that prizeas of now.

"There was just this crazy, magnetic energy about him. It was like wewere drawnto each otherfrom the momentwe locked eyes."

As she recounted their conversations and shared momentsfromover the past week, Icouldn"thelp but feel a pang of envy.Rita"seasy and romantic rapport with the stranger of all people contrasted sharply with my complicated feelings towards Demetri and the uncertainties of this situation I was in— even if I waspretty sure that it was mecausing those uncertainties.

I could just accept it.

I couldjusttake it easylikethey suggested. I could maybe even love one day and accept…being an omega.

The thought felt crazy.

But not the craziest anymore.

But despite my mixed emotions, Icouldn"tdeny the genuine happiness that radiated from Rita about where her own life was taking her when she finally achieved her PhD and maybe even fell in love the way she could whenever she wanted with a guy she met randomly with similar interests.

A glimmer of hope radiated in a waythat Ihad never heard from her before.Maybe she was doing better without me.

The thought both hurtas well asmade me feel a little better, a hint of guiltsomethingthat bothered me the past few days even if Ididn'tadmit it aloud.

It was also an odd sort of reminder. Even the person who saidshe'dnever fall in love could find a connection amid chaos and uncertainty. Ormaybe,that was just my own I was thinking about.

"I really like him."

"That's good," I said. Especially with how much she's already been gushing about him.

"No, it isn't."

"It isn't?"

Rita"slaughter filled the room."It would be a terrible idea."

"Why?" I asked.

"We work together now.He'sat the university with me…"

"So?"

"Look at my friend, so quick to break the rules nowtoo,"she said as if I had any idea still what she was talking about. Onher end. From someone who once accidentally went out with a studentnowshe was worried about sleeping with a coworker? Not even a coworker?"My oh my."

I rolled my eyes at her."Do you have at least a photo of this mysterious guy?"

"Paul," she reminded me.

"Right. Paul."

She nodded immediately, fishing out her phone.

"Here he is."She twisted the screen around to show me the picture. I squinted."I know.It'sa little blurry. We were laughing, so I never got a good shot."

"I'm glad you're happy, Rita."

She gave a soft smile as she looked down at the practically invisible photo she had. Yep. She was more than a little intohim."You'llhave to meet him. Once everythingis clearedupofcourse."

"I'd like that."

Marko stood with his hands on the kitchen counter when Rita and I finally emerged from the office we had been talking in for the past few hours. Liam was over by the windows at the dinner table. Only, instead of plates, all of the papers I once saw in his office were laid out there.

Cal was withhim,and looking over everything else laid out slowly.

I didn't see Demetri.

I peered around the room and behind me as if he might appear, but he was nowhere.

"Are you alright, Ella?"Marko asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Perfect."

I looked between them and her. They were maintaining their distance, but it was odd. Even after just an afternoon,I thinkI was starting to miss them. Ina different way than I missed Rita, of course.

I reached out to grab her hand.

She looked down at it, shocked at the touch. I never used to touch her, ever. I was afraid that if she had held my hand or hugged me before, something might happen to reveal me, and Iwouldn'tbe able to let go.

Now, though. The secret was out.

Another not-so-bad thing. Hopefully.

It still made my heart race to think about it.

I squeezed her fingers in mine."I'llcall you."

She squeezed my hand back.

"You better. I'm happy for you, Ella," she said, eyes soft and sincere.

I inhaled. "I think I'm getting there too."

"Don'tmess it up."A sad look of ease crossedRita'sface as she squeezed my hand."Go and see Professor Hottie and whoever else isout therewaiting for you this evening. I get it."

"I bet you do," I whispered and she cackled at my poor tease. "I'll have to meet this guy you're in love with some time."

"I'mnot in love with him."

"Uh-huh."

"Seriously, I even told him a little about youandhe seemed interestedso…I'mnot trying to get my hopes up."

I still shook my head.

"Have fun."Rita waggled her eyebrows. I watched her head back out the front door and back towards her life on campusandwith her friends in the slightly run-down apartment, she made a home for herself and me.

You too.

AndI…I turned back to the men watching me withsmallsmileson their facesreadyto likely ask me a million questions by how they stood around the table, ushering me back into their fold soeasily.

Was this fun?

For some reason, I wasn't so sure it wasn't.